Electromagnetic radiation emitting toothbrush and dentifrice system

Abstract

A device includes a handle coupled with an activated textured surface that can be implemented using a repetitive movement mechanism and a treatment energy source, such as an electromagnetic radiation source. The handle may be used to provide detection, treatment and/or management of sundry conditions including, for example, tooth discoloration, tissue damage, periodontal disease, tumors, pain, halitosis, and bronchitis. The activated textured surface may include a surface topography including corrugations, bristles, protuberances, or pits, or other surfaces for facilitating agitation, cleaning or other surface treatments.

1. A tissue treatment device, comprising:
 a handle suitable to be gripped by a hand of a user; 
 a repetitive movement mechanism; 
 a plurality of activated textured surfaces arranged on the device in rows and configured to be activated by the repetitive movement mechanism to apply one or more of agitation and cleaning forces onto a tissue site; and 
 at least one electromagnetic energy output disposed in a vicinity at least partially beneath each of the rows and configured to be activated during activation of the repetitive movement mechanism to direct light into different parts of each of the plurality of activated textured surfaces as the parts of the activated textured surfaces and the at least one electromagnetic energy output are moved relative to each other under influence of the repetitive movement mechanism; 
 wherein the activated textured surfaces comprise bristles of a first height and bristles of a second height greater than the first height, the bristles of the second height being constructed to direct electromagnetic energy through a first region of a dentifrice that is free of a second agent and into a second region of the dentifrice that contains the second agent. 
 
     
     
       2. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dentifrice comprises a first layer having a first agent that is more sensitive to first wavelengths and a second layer having a second agent that is more sensitive to second wavelengths that are different from the first wavelengths. 
 
     
     
       3. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one activated textured surface of a row can be activated to oscillate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the row in which it is disposed. 
     
     
       4. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one electromagnetic energy output is positioned in each row to provide constant irradiation of only a portion of that row as different parts of the at least one activated textured surface in that row move over the electromagnetic energy output. 
     
     
       5. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein at least one electromagnetic energy output in each row constantly irradiates a corresponding part of that row so that electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy output is directed into the part even as the different portions of the at least one activated textured surface are irradiated by the electromagnetic energy output during each cycle of oscillation of the at least one activated textured surface in that row. 
     
     
       6. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one electromagnetic energy output in each row comprises a plurality of electromagnetic energy outputs. 
     
     
       7. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a visualization device positioned at a distal end of the treatment device and suitable for communicating image data from the distal end of the treatment device to a display; and 
 a plaque remover implement attached to the treatment device. 
 
     
     
       8. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the visualization device comprises an intraoral video camera constructed with one or more light sources having wavelengths and associated circuitry designed to elucidate or visually differentiate one or more tissue conditions, the visualization device and plaque remover implement enabling a user to identify treatment conditions and, in real time, to use the plaque remover implement to treat the condition. 
     
     
       9. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one electromagnetic energy output comprises a first electromagnetic energy output and a second electromagnetic energy output having a wavelength different from the first electromagnetic energy output; and 
 the first agent is more sensitive to wavelengths from the first electromagnetic energy output and the second agent is more sensitive to wavelengths from the second electromagnetic energy output. 
 
     
     
       10. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bristles of the second height are configured to output a greater power. 
     
     
       11. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein distal ends of the bristles of the second height extend at least partially through a first, distinct layer of the dentifrice and into a second layer having a different compositional characteristic. 
     
     
       12. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of activated textured surfaces comprise first activated textured surfaces of a first power output and second activated textured surfaces of a second, different power output; and 
 the at least one electromagnetic energy output is configured to be activated to direct a first treatment energy into the first activated textured surfaces and to direct a second treatment energy, differing in at least one characteristic besides power from the first treatment energy, into the second activated textured surfaces. 
 
     
     
       13. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of activated textured surfaces comprises a plurality of bristles arranged on the device in rows and configured to be activated to apply one or more of agitation and cleaning forces onto a tissue site. 
     
     
       14. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the second activated textured surfaces are configured to output a greater power. 
     
     
       15. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 12 , the dentifrice being disposed on the activated textured surfaces, wherein:
 the at least one electromagnetic energy output comprises a first electromagnetic energy output and a second electromagnetic energy output having a wavelength different from the first electromagnetic energy output; and 
 the first agent is more sensitive to wavelengths from the first electromagnetic energy output and the second agent is more sensitive to wavelengths from the second electromagnetic energy output. 
 
     
     
       16. A tissue treatment system, comprising:
 a handle suitable to be gripped by a hand of a user; 
 an electric movement mechanism; 
 first and second activated textured surfaces configured to be activated by the electric movement mechanism to apply one or more of agitation and cleaning forces onto a distally located tissue site; 
 a dentifrice of first and second agents having first and second sensitivities to first and second different wavelengths, the second activated textured surface extending distally to a greater height than the first activated textured surface to direct light distally through a proximal portion of the dentifrice into a distal portion of the dentifrice; and 
 first and second electromagnetic energy outputs for producing respectively the first and second wavelengths and configured to be activated to direct light into each of the activated textured surfaces. 
 
     
     
       17. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the tissue treatment device is a toothbrush. 
     
     
       18. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein:
 the second electromagnetic energy output has a wavelength different from the first electromagnetic energy output; and 
 the dentifrice is disposed on the activated textured surfaces, the dentifrice having a first agent that is more sensitive to wavelengths from the first electromagnetic energy output and a second agent that is more sensitive to wavelengths from the second electromagnetic energy output. 
 
     
     
       19. The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the activated textured surfaces comprise bristles of a first height and of a second height greater than the first height, the bristles of the second height being configured to output a greater power.